Panathinaikos emerged as the victors of the fifth edition of the Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament, securing a thrilling 70-69 victory against Anadolu Efes in the final.
After two days of intense competition, Panathinaikos clinched the tournament trophy, a significant moment for both players and especially the fans. The victory holds special significance as the team hadn’t recently secured many trophies, and winning this tournament held in honor of their former president was a heartfelt achievement.
The final in Athens between Panathinaikos and Anadolu Efes delivered an outstanding and captivating EuroLeague-style matchup. Kostas Sloukas sealed the victory for his team with a layup just 11 seconds before the final buzzer.
☘️ Il a beau changer de club, le résultat est le même
— EuroLeague France 🇫🇷 (@EuroLeagueFr) September 24, 2023
Kostas Sloukas avec le panier de la gagne pour le 1er titre de la saison !#EuroLeague #paobc pic.twitter.com/Uj2CmzRCGn
In the last possession for Efes, the ball found Derek Willis, who attempted a game-winning three-pointer but missed, triggering celebrations among Panathinaikos players and fans.
The first quarter witnessed an evenly matched game with impressive plays on both sides. Neither team managed to establish a significant lead. However, in the second quarter, Panathinaikos displayed stronger defense, allowing them to build a 33-25 lead by halftime.
Panathinaikos maintained their advantage, but the Istanbul-based guests had an answer for every challenge they faced.
In the second half, particularly the final quarter, it seemed that after the dominant performance of former Partizan center Mathias Lessort, Panathinaikos would seal the win decisively. However, it turned out to be a nail-biting finish, ultimately resolved by Sloukas.
The most prolific player of the match was Lessort, who contributed 21 points. In the battle for third place, Bayern defeated Partizan 99-95.